So Many Seeds
Monday, November 20, 2017![]() |
Finches working over a Birch Tree |
Mast : the fruit of forest trees
Mast Year : much more mast than usual is produced
Many birds visited our feeders this spring / early summer. Two feeder fill-ups per day. Located at the front of our porch, it was a constant air show.
So when we put the feeders up a month ago -- with so many birds around -- I expected to pick up where we left off.
"Bet it will only take 5 minutes for the Blue Jays to find the seed".
Not so. I have only made one small addition to the feeders after a month.
The birds prefer the wild seeds. And it has been an exceptional year.
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Beech seeds |
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White Pine cones pile up on the forest floor |
Sugar Maples were loaded with keys. As were Yellow Birch with cones. And the Red Spruce were filled. Not to be out done, we have a 'Mystery Tree' that was laden with fruit...first time we've seen it.
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Mystery Tree laden with berries |
So what's the reason for all these seeds? Scientists think that "large seed releases can effectively exceed seed predation and improve the chance of successful establishment." Perhaps their survival response to the record drought we had last year.
The birds in our area are demonstrating their predation skills.
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